Allison Park Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
5.1 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.001 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
134.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.23
energy & soap waste
Source: USGS Water Quality Portal · Updated 2026
0–60
mg/L
Soft
61–120
mg/L
Moderately Hard
121–180
mg/L
Hard
180+
mg/L
Very Hard
Appliance Damage Report
In Allison Park, your appliances are currently losing 12% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Allison Park | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -21% |
| Washing Machine | 10.4 yrs | 12 yrs | -13% |
| Water Heater | 12.1 yrs | 15 yrs | -19% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Allison Park compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Allison Park, Pennsylvania | 86.5 mg/L | 4.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 118 mg/L | 11.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Franklin Park, Pennsylvania | 185.5 mg/L | 9.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Penn Hills, Pennsylvania | 161.5 mg/L | 8.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania | 89.5 mg/L | 4.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Allison Park compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Allison Park | 86.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Allison Park's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Allison Park, Pennsylvania, in Allegheny County — an affluent unincorporated North Hills suburb of Pittsburgh in the Hampton Township corridor, known for its wooded residential neighborhoods, the North Park Allegheny County Park system, and the tech-professional community of the northern Pittsburgh metropolitan area — receives its municipal water from Pennsylvania American Water (PAWC) or the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN), which draws from the Allegheny River through PAWC's Pittsburgh district treatment facility or from local Pine Creek watershed impoundments.
The moderately soft 86.5 mg/L hardness and low TDS of 134.7 mg/L reflect the Allegheny River watershed's Appalachian Plateau Devonian clastic geology. The Allegheny River in Allegheny County drains the Appalachian Plateau Province of western Pennsylvania — primarily the Devonian Catskill Formation (red shale and sandstone) and related Devonian-Mississippian clastic formations of the Pennsylvania oil country and Allegheny Highlands. These non-carbonate clastic (sandstone and shale) formations produce characteristically soft water — significantly softer than the carbonate-dominated central and southern Ohio supplies. The local Pine Creek watershed in the North Hills similarly drains Appalachian Plateau Devonian clastics, contributing to the soft, low-TDS character of the Allison Park supply.
At 86.5 mg/L, Allison Park's water is moderately soft — comfortable for all household uses in the North Hills. Scale forms slowly over many months, soap lathers well, and appliances operate efficiently. Semi-annual descaling of heating appliances is adequate. The PFAS level of 4.5 ppt is modest for the Pittsburgh metropolitan area — Allison Park's residential character, the wooded North Hills corridor's limited heavy industry, and the Allegheny River watershed's Appalachian Plateau rural character upstream of Pittsburgh produce a moderate PFAS background. The Pittsburgh region's legacy steel and chemical manufacturing downstream adds some regional PFAS contribution.
Geology & Source: Allison Park in Allegheny County draws from Pennsylvania American Water (PAWC) on the Allegheny River or local Pine Creek watershed reservoir — the Allegheny River drains the Appalachian Plateau (Devonian Catskill Formation — shale and sandstone) of western Pennsylvania — Devonian clastic and Appalachian Plateau watershed drainage produces moderately soft water at 86.5 mg/L with TDS 135 mg/L in this north Pittsburgh suburb.